His country-music raising got him started, but Waylon Payne’s talent — and his demons — drive him on.
Jeff Prince

The stereo in Waylon Payne’s 1989 Mercedes Benz is blasting “Mama, Drive On” as he barrels down a farm road west of Fort Worth. A breeze whips through the sunroof and knocks ashes off his Marlboro, but he doesn’t notice...